Banjo.



N. J. NELSON.

BANJO.

APPLICATION FILED 001.31, 1911.

1 090,937. Patented 11211211914.

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COLUMBIA PLANQUE/Pn CO.,WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELON J. NELSON, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO VEGA COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

BANJO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led October 31, 1911.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, NELoN J. NELSON, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Banjos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

My invention relates to an improvement in banjos.

The object of my invention is to increase the resonance and carrying power of the banjo and make the same more musical especially in the higher notes.

My invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows in vertical cross section the body of a banjo fitted with my present improvement, the banjo shown being essentially like that shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 928,948, granted David L. Day July 27, 1909, and to which the present improvement is especially applicable. Fig. 2 shows in vertical cross section an enlarged detail of the same construction.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents the annular wooden shell or body of the banjo. Upon this ismounted a resonating ring 2 which forms the essential subject matter of my present invention as will hereinafter be explained. On the ring 2 is placed or mounted a band wire 3. Turned inwardly over and around this wire and extending down alongside the ring 2 and partly onto the body of the banjo by an incision formed therein is an annular guard 4.

5 represents the head of the banjo. This head extends over the guard 4 and is turned down alongside the same. To the downturned edge of the head is attached the annular stretching-piece or member 6 and against this there bears an annular ring 7 which is adapted to be drawn against the stretching-piece for stretching and retaining the head and also operating to draw the band wire, resonating ring and body of the instrument tightly together forming a solid unitary structure. The ring 7 is drawn against the head-stretching-piece or member 6 by means of a series of clamps 8 which are adjustably secured to brackets 9 fixed to a band or hoop l0 encircling the body of the banjo and fitting into an incision formed therein by which the hoop is retained.

With the exception of the ring 2, to which reference will now be made, the elements thus far described are those shown and described in said Letters Patent No. 928,948.

' The resonating ring 2 it will be observed is one comprising an unyielding but vibratory hollow metallic shell of uniform rectangular cross section throughout the circumference of the ring and is provided through the interior wall thereof facing the interior of the shell or body of the banjo, with a series of openings 11. Such construction of the resonating ring enables it to form a solid unyielding but vibratory connection with the head of the banjo through the band wire bound tight against the same as aforesaid and by which the vibrations of the head may be directly imparted to the chamber of the resonating ring. I have also c found that the rectangular form of the band wire is of material importance, assisting not only in effecting a proper connection ybetween the bound parts but also tending to improve the resonance of the ring.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States In a banjo, the combination with the head of the banjo, of a main supporting body, a band wire over which said head is stretched, a resonating ring bound tightly between said band wire and said body whereby said band wire, resonating ring and body will present a unitary structure, said resonating ring comprising an unyielding but vibratory hollow metallic shell of uniform rectangular cross section throughout the circumference of the ring with a series of openings on the interior side thereof and means for binding said body, band wire and resonating ring tightly together.

NELON J. NELSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. R. HAYES, JAMES J. KENNEALLY,

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot Patents, Washington, D. C. 

